Stress, anxiety, and depression are often used interchangeably in
conversation, but these terms each represent very different experiences.
Understanding their differences is key to raising public awareness about
mental health, as well as making sure people have access to help when they
need it.
Here’s a quick explainer on each of these common mental health terms, along
with ways to manage these conditions.
Table of Contents
Stress
Stress is the result of
your “flight-or-fight” reflex. When you face something that your brain
perceives to be a threat, your body releases hormones that cause you to
become alert and ready to act under pressure. This natural response often
causes physical symptoms such as a rapid heart rate, flushed skin, and tense
muscles. Your “fight-or-flight” reflex can be helpful in certain situations
when you’re under pressure to perform well, such as having to give a big
presentation at work. In these types of situations, the stress usually goes
away once the perceived threat is no longer there.
But sometimes, a perceived threat can linger for an extended period of time,
causing the stress to become
chronic. Examples of chronic stress include:
• Everyday pressures such as work, school, family needs, and
financial issues
• Consequential events such as a divorce, an illness, or losing your job
• Experiencing or witnessing serious harm or death from something like a car
accident, a natural disaster, or a war — this can lead to
post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD)
Chronic stress can lead to numerous
physical and mental health problems, including:
• Lowered resistance to illness
• Digestive system problems
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Feeling sad or angry
• Developing a bad temper
If it lasts long enough, chronic stress can increase someone’s risk of
developing
diabetes,
high blood pressure, or
heart disease.
Ways to combat stress yourself
include eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising, practicing deep
breathing, stretching, meditating, and not smoking or drinking. You also
should:
• Try to solve the problems you can and not worry about ones you can’t
• Do your best to avoid criticizing yourself for not being perfect
• Talk about your problems to people who care about you
• Do some things you enjoy
Anxiety
Many
anxiety symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat, tense muscles, and shortness of breath, are also
symptoms of stress. Temporary feelings of anxiousness are normal when you’re
dealing with a stressful situation. However, if you experience persistent
feelings of worry, fear, or dread that interfere with your daily life, you
may have an
anxiety disorder
such as:
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which causes you to
worry excessively about ordinary issues• Panic Disorder, in which you get panic attacks
• Social Anxiety Disorder, which is a fear of others watching
and judging you• Phobia-related disorders, which cause you to be intensely
and irrationally afraid of specific situations or objects such as flying,
heights, snakes, spiders, blood, or getting injections
If you’re experiencing general anxiety, you can try to manage it yourself
using the same strategies recommended for managing stress.
If you feel overwhelmed by anxiety, or if you’re experiencing symptoms of an
anxiety disorder, you should contact a
mental health professional
to formulate a diagnosis and provide treatment. Your treatment plan, which
may include therapy, medication, or a combination of both, will be dependent
on the
type of mental health provider
you choose. For instance, only a psychiatrist or other MD/DO can prescribe
medication.
Depression
Feelings of sadness are normal when you experience difficult times, such as
losing a loved one, getting let go at work, or breaking up with a
significant other. While the sadness may be intense, the feelings typically
go away with time for most people.
Depression, on the other hand, is a common and serious mental health condition that
causes severe symptoms which can impact the way you feel and think on a
daily basis.
Several factors may trigger depression or increase someone’s risk of
developing the condition, including:
• Low self-esteem, being overly dependent, or having a pessimistic outlook on
life
• Experiencing distressing life events such as physical or sexual abuse,
losing a loved one, a challenging breakup, or financial issues
• Having a family history of mental health disorders
• Being part of a marginalized population such as the LBTQIA+ community
• Abusing alcohol or drugs
• Having a serious chronic illness such as cancer or heart disease
• Taking certain medications
Symptoms of depression include:
• Lack of emotion
• Feeling sad or empty
• A loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Overeating or having no appetite
• Not being able to sleep or sleeping too much
• Feeling exhausted
• Aches, pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
• Thoughts of death or suicide
To be diagnosed with major depression, a person needs to
experience at least five of these symptoms every day for a minimum of two
weeks.
If you experience less severe symptoms of depression lasting much longer,
typically for at least 2 years, you may have
persistent depressive disorder.
Other types of depression include:
• Perinatal depression, which is experienced during and after pregnancy.
• Seasonal
affective disorder (SAD), which is experienced during the
months with the least daylight.• Depression
with symptoms of psychosis, which can cause delusions or
hallucinations.
If you believe you are experiencing depression, you should seek the help of
a mental health professional. Either through talk therapy, medication, or a
combination of both, you’ll be provided with resources to treat your
depression.
And if your mental state ever reaches the point that you’re thinking of
harming yourself, get help immediately. You can call or text the
988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline
24/7 for free, confidential support.
